By Emb Hashmi
Apart from the daily dose of horrific bombings and terrorist attacks prominent on our daily news round ups, it is important to remember that there is much more to the beautiful, tranquil and colourful Pakistan.
Asian World spoke exclusively to Pakistan’s Consul General in Birmingham, Mr. Shair Bahadur Khan to hear about his favorite part of his homeland and dispel many of the negative impressions catapulted upon us on a daily basis. In fact it seems much of the images that are given to us about Pakistan can be vastly exaggerated and not reflective of the real country and its remarkable achievements.
Firstly Mr. Shair Bahadar Khan strenuously stated that the main priority of the current government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is good governance, mainly emphasizing on the revival of the economy by encouraging local businesses as well as international trade. Energy crises which the country is currently facing are also being addressed through various sources.
The government has introduced a PM’s Youth Program to cater for the needs of the younger generation by eradicating unemployment. The government’s progress has however been constrained to a certain extent by terrorism which is now at the top of its agenda.
In Pakistan women play a vital role in every sphere of life. One thing not many people know and might be surprised to hear is that 60 seats of the parliamentary seats are reserved for women who thus do not need to contest an election to be voted in.
The Consul General stated that Pakistan is basically an agro-based country, which helps keep the economy running and where there are many opportunities to invest in existing or new businesses.
Apart from the guaranteed sunshine from April to December, Pakistan is rich in culture and has some of the world’s most iconic tourist attractions. The north is dominated by three great mountain ranges of the Karakorams, the Himalayas, and the Hindu Kush. The highest peaks include the second highest in the world known as K-2.
The Swat valley in its peak was one of Pakistan’s best-kept secrets. Mr. Khan told the Asian World he thinks the Swat valley is absolutely stunning and a must see on the tourist track. Manshehra as Mr. Shair Bahadar Khan explained is a treat for the historians. This is a place where one can see ancient relics and witness the famous Ashoka monuments. Moreover, the famous Khyber Pass is worth a visit which is located near Peshawar, the oldest city of Pakistan.
Pakistan is built on the foundations of the most interesting civilization – the Indus Valley Civilization. Harappa and Moen-Jo-Dar are notable tourist attractions.
In Islamabad, the capital city, the Consul General has many favorites such as The Margalla Hills which is ideal for hiking. There are also restaurants on the hills which offer a beautiful view of the entire city, especially at night. For those who like to visit striking architectural masterpieces, the Consul General recommends one of the biggest Mosques in the Country – the famous Faisal Mosque (named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia who gifted the Mosque to Pakistan).
In Punjab, Murree, a hill station, is extremely popular with locals for its cooler weather and also attracts hounds of people during the winter months so they can enjoy the snow.
Lahore is like the heart of Pakistan, more popular than the capital and is home to the country’s celebrities and business leaders. It is one of the oldest cities of the region and yet some parts of it are extremely developed and resemble areas in the west. Apart from the striking historic buildings, Mr. Khan said “a visit to Lahore is incomplete without a visit to the Badshahi Mosque, which is located in the heart of the cultural district of Lahore, with many nice restaurants in the area.” Lahore, as many other cities in Pakistan, also boasts a Polo club. However, an event that should be on the top any polo lovers’ ‘to do list’ is to attend the Shandur festival in Gilgit situated in northern Pakistan, “which is the world’s highest polo ground and has attracted spectators not just form the world of sport but also dignitaries,” said the Consul General.
In Sindh, the port city of Karachi acts as the backbone of the country’s economy. On the other hand, Balochistan is heavily rich in land, minerals and other natural resources yet to be exploited, with the beautiful Gwadar port adding to its qualities.
Renowned educational institutions are a jewel in Pakistan’s crown and their standards can be matched to those in the west. Aitchison College Lahore, popularly known as the “Eton of Asia” is one such esteemed institution, which was known as a Chief’s college to educate the Princes of North India. Other such institutions include Lawrence College Murree and Burnhall School Abbottabad. Pakistani universities are also doing well in improving education provided to young talent who plan to graduate from the country. These include Government College/University Lahore, Punjab University, Forman Christian College, Edward’s College Peshawar, Agha Khan, IBA and LUMS.
All in all, the Consul General highlighted just the reality of the tip of the iceberg of treasures and opportunities available in Pakistan for tourists and business people alike.
